The Best Anti-Aging Products for Dry, Sensitive Skin

It’s quite a task to find an anti-aging cream for sensitive skin: a product to do the work of plumping, smoothing, firming, evening skin tone, diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and providing broad-spectrum sun protection—while also calming redness, soothing skin, and not causing irritation. In part, that’s because no one product can do everything a good anti-aging routine needs to accomplish. As a result, Paula’s Choice Skincare designed two kits especially for dry skin, each containing a few products designed to work together as an anti-aging team.

In particular, what makes our RESIST anti-aging line ideal for sensitive skin is that every product is fragrance-free, with textures appropriate for every skin type.

The Essential Kit includes a simple, three-step routine for a.m. and p.m.: Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturizer, with sun protection during the day, and a boost of anti-aging all-star ingredients at night.

RESIST Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser has a moisturizing, lotion-like texture that cleanses without leaving a tight feeling or an occlusive residue. Like the best anti-aging cleansers, ours includes soothing ingredients that help preserve skin’s barrier while removing dirt, makeup, and other impurities.

RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs, most often glycolic acid or lactic acid) have been proven to help skin retain vital hydration, and are the gentlest way to exfoliate. They work by loosening the bonds between dead and living skin, so surface layers slough imperceptibly—the way skin behaves on its own, until age and sun damage slow the process. This leave-on exfoliant, when used once or twice per day, will give you smooth, even-toned skin with fewer visible signs of aging. Our formula includes an anti-aging cocktail of antioxidants, ceramides, and peptides to protect against environmental stressors and bind moisture for beautifully radiant skin.

*Note that glycolic acid can make skin more sun-sensitive, so in the daytime always be sure to follow with:

RESIST Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50. This antioxidant-rich, emollient (but non-greasy) daytime moisturizer covers all the bases if you’re shopping for the best moisturizer for dry, sensitive aging skin. It hydrates and protects with smoothing, anti-aging ingredients like shea butter, licorice, and niacinamide.

RESIST Barrier Repair Moisturizer replaces your SPF moisturizer as the last step in your evening routine. Its light lotion texture contains a moisture-enhancing, anti-aging cocktail of ceramides, peptides, and antioxidants—combined with 0.01% retinol. Although that may seem like a minuscule amount of an ingredient shown to improve uneven skin tone, loss of firmness, wrinkles, large pores, and the appearance of thinning skin, research has revealed that concentrations as low as 0.01% are just as effective as higher concentrations, if used over time. Plus, those low concentrations are much less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

The RESIST Advanced Kit for Dry Skin adds two quick steps into your daily routines, and one occasional addition:

After cleansing morning and night, apply RESIST Advanced Replenishing Toner. It’s loaded with moisturizing omega fatty acids and replenishing antioxidants that help further protect skin’s barrier and lock in every bit of hydration.

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About the Experts

Paula Begoun is the best-selling author of 20 books about skincare and makeup. She is known worldwide as The Cosmetics Cop and creator of Paula’s Choice Skincare. Paula’s expertise has led to hundreds of appearances on national and international radio, print, and television including:

The Paula's Choice Research Team is dedicated to busting beauty myths and providing expert advice that solves your skincare frustrations so you can have the best skin of your life!